Testing the effect of vitamin D treatment on symptoms of depression
Low vitamin D levels are associated with depressive symptoms, especially in people with a history of depression.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, in Amherst, evaluated the impact of daily supplementation with vitamin D combined with elemental calcium on depression.
First, the details.
- 36,282 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to a treatment group.
- Daily supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin D(3) + 1,000 mg of elemental calcium
- Placebo
- Depressive symptoms as measured by the Burnam scale and current use of antidepressant medication were used to assess depressive symptoms at the start of the study.
- 2 years later, women again reported on their antidepressant use, and 2,263 completed a second Burnam scale.
- Neither the patients nor researchers knew the treatment given — double blind.
And, the results.
- After 2 years, there was no difference in women taking vitamin D and calcium vs placebo.
- Vitamin D supplementation was not associated with antidepressant use or continuous depressive symptom score.
- Results adjusted for baseline vitamin D levels and calcium intake, solar irradiance, and other factors were similar.
The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “The findings do not support a relation between supplementation with 400 IU/day of vitamin D(3) along with calcium and depression in older women.”
It’s possible that previously reported links between low vitamin D and depression might be related to confounding effects such as of lifestyle and diet instead.
It’s also possible that the vitamin D dose taken in this study was too small to have an effect.
9/4/12 20:44 JR